something doesn’t smell right [exp]

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Meaning:

When something makes you think that something bad or illegal is happening.

Examples:

I see suspicious actions in the upper floor. it doesn’t smell right at all.
He keeps changing his story, and something doesn’t smell right.

That advertisement for a free car doesn’t smell right; it’s probably a scam.
She said she got a designer bag for $10, but something doesn’t smell right about that deal.
His sudden change of heart doesn’t smell right to me.

The numbers in the report don’t add up; something doesn’t smell right here.
Their excuse for the project delay doesn’t smell right.
The alibi he gave to the police doesn’t smell right.

Something doesn’t smell right about the way this contract was signed.
He keeps changing his story, and something doesn’t smell right.
That advertisement for a free car doesn’t smell right; it’s probably a scam.

He claims he’s never been here before, but something doesn’t smell right about that.
Their explanation for the budget overrun doesn’t smell right.
That email promising free money doesn’t smell right to me.

Synonyms words or idioms for “something doesn’t smell right”

There’s some funny business going on here

Used when you realize that something suspicious is happening.

The prices in this report don’t make sense. There’s some funny business going on here.
I will never trust him; there’s some funny business going on here, and I will find that.

Every time I walk in, they stop talking, do you know why? There’s definitely some funny business going on here.
The deal looks too good more than I expected. There’s some funny business going on here.

To be rotten to the core

Very dishonest.

Their president pretended that he cares about people, but he was rotten to the core.
That firm turned out to be rotten to the core, the managers have been charged with tax fraud.
At first, he seems to be polite, but he’s rotten to the core.

The entire court system in some countries is rotten to the core, some swindlers give bribe to acquit.

Something isn’t kosher

Something that is not kosher is not legal, honest or what is expected to be.

At last, I will know what they are doing in this office, something isn’t kosher here.

This contract looked fair at first, but some hidden fees made me think something isn’t kosher.
He claimed I won the money, but I think they didn’t hand to me all of the money. Something wasn’t kosher.
This car is not worth $500,000 something isn’t kosher.

Something doesn’t feel right

When you don’t feel right, you have found out not only the plan is not proceeding truly but also something dubious is going on.

When I entered into the meeting, I immediately found that something didn’t feel right.
He was smiling and not talking frankly, but something didn’t feel right about the way he talked.

It seems something didn’t feel right, I won’t sign the contract.
As soon as saw their face, I realized that something didn’t feel right. The atmosphere was suspiciously quiet.

To be Fishy

Used to describe something seems to be bad or dishonest.

His excuse for being absent in the class sounded a little fishy to me.
There’s something fishy about the man who wants to deal with.
It’s doubtful that this contract is all beneficial for me. It’s really fishy.

She didn’t answer my question correctly that what she wants the money for. Her fishy answer didn’t convince me.

Suspicious

Something that probably is wrong.

The police were suspicious about what the man said.

Apparently, he was unwilling to say all the details. He made me suspicious.
Me and my colleagues were suspicious of how he makes this amount of money per month.
The detectives say death of that politician is not natural and this is suspicious.

Amiss

When a thing is amiss, you think there is something wrong in it.

I thought something was amiss, because she didn’t let the boss know that she would come late.
He looked around the room. He likely found something that was amiss.

If you hear, see or find something amiss, call me.
There was nothing wrong, but I felt something was amiss around there.

Dishonest

Including things to cheat or deceive people.

She has stolen the essay and won the reward. She has chosen dishonest way to progress.
All advertisers wrongly seen as dishonest.
On of the candidate showed wrong statistics to deceive audiences. That was dishonest way of discussion.

The robber was dishonest in his interrogation.

Dubious

Likely not to be true or honest.

The company was accused of dubious activities and tax violation.

The assault seemed to be dubious. I think we were tricked.
He thought it was dubious that they had chosen hi as a best manager. They wanted to assign all responsibilities to him.
The referee recognized that his falling in the penalty area was dubious. He showed him a yellow card for the trick.

Shady

A shady business or thing that is not honest or has to do with secret or illegal activities.

That guy always has a new evil plan. He seems really shady to everyone.
They make a lot of money faster than before, recently the business looks shady.

I accidentally heard a shady conversation between them about moving money hiddenly.
Be careful! he’s known as a shady character in this town.

Shifty

A shifty person is always planning to do something dishonest.

He gave me a shifty look when I asked how did you spend the money.
I think he is untrustworthy guy. He’s too shifty for trusting.
The salesperson was talking too shifty, like he wasn’t telling the whole truth about that shoes that he wanted to sell.

His shifty behavior during the interview made everyone mad at him.

Dodgy

An untrusted person, plan or activity.

That investment plan sounds a bit dodgy. I’m sure it will turn out to be unsuccessful. I wouldn’t risk it.

He bought a classic car from a dodgy guy working in that mysterious warehouse.
Patrolling in the streets made neighbors think the man is dodgy.
She came out of the blue with a dodgy excuse for why the plan was revealed.

Antonyms for the idiom “something doesn’t smell right”

To be kosher

An honest and legal plan or business.

I hope your offer will be kosher.

So many staffs are working with this company and they are all satisfied and they declare that dealing with them is kosher.

No need to be worry! Everything about this contract is really kosher.
Before we move forward, we need to make sure everything is kosher by bringing this up with the lawyer.

To be honest

A person who always tells the truth.

This carpenter is a hard-working honest man.
Despite her honest face, this is possible that she will lie in the future.
His answers told us that is an honest person during the interview.

This is right the she advised me angrily, but at least she was honest with me.

Quiz

Quiz; "something doesn’t smell right"

Read carefully the passage about the meaning of "something doesn’t smell right" and answer the question

1 / 4

Which emotion is someone most likely feeling when they say, “something doesn’t smell right”?

Excitement

Suspicion

Confidence

Indifference

2 / 4

Which scenario best fits the phrase "something doesn’t smell right"?

You receive an email saying you won a free vacation but never entered any contest.

Your friend gives you a sincere compliment on your new outfit.

You see a rainbow after a heavy rainstorm.

Your teacher explains a topic clearly and you understand it immediately.

3 / 4

Which phrase has a similar meaning to "something doesn’t smell right"?

"There’s no such thing as a free lunch."

"It’s water under the bridge."

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"Practice makes perfect."

4 / 4

How would you react if you thought “something doesn’t smell right”?

Ignore the situation entirely

Ask questions and look for more information

Celebrate without hesitation

Accept everything at face value

Your score is

The average score is 0%